Kordel Ng makes Kamehameha debut in ‘Iolani summer league

Former St. Francis basketball player Kordel Ng, left, shared a laugh with new Kamehameha teammate Christmas Togiai, right, during the 'Iolani summer league on Friday. Photo by Jamm Aquino/Star-Advertiser.

Maybe it’s a done deal.

Maybe not. From all visible angles, however, former St. Francis standout hoopster Kordel Ng is now a Kamehameha Warrior. The 5-foot-10 guard led Kamehameha with 13 points and a handful of assists in a 53-16 win over Saint Louis on Friday night in the ‘Iolani summer league.

Ng and his teammates shared playing time. One of Ng’s buckets came on a fullcourt pass from longtime friend and new teammate Christmas Togiai.

“It’s permanent. I’m going to Kamehameha,” Ng said. “When I found out I got into Kamehameha, I was running off the walls in my house. That’s pretty much how I felt.”

Togiai was voted No. 8 in the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball All-State Fab 15, the highest-rated underclassman. The 6-foot point guard/wing is also the returning starting quarterback on the football team. Ng was voted No. 13 despite nagging injuries. During an eight-game stretch while older brother Kameron Ng was injured, Kordel Ng averaged 24 points per game.

St. Francis closed its doors in the spring, leading to an exodus by players to schools across Oahu. Because of the unique situation, St. Francis student-athletes are permitted to transfer and be eligible immediately within the ILH. Normally, transfers within ILH Division I are required to sit out the ensuing season.

Some hubbub followed, though, because Ng enrolled at multiple schools, uncertain whether he would be accepted through the process. Punahou accepted him during the spring and he practiced at least once with the summer-league team. He then was accepted at Kamehameha after being on the wait list. That was a month ago, and in the time since there was more uncertainty whether Punahou had a legal case to either keep Ng or prevent any other team in the ILH to accept him.

That seems to be history now.

“It’s a hard spot for all of the St. Francis kids because the school closed. I’m glad it’s run its course,” Kamehameha coach Larry Park said Friday after the game. “I think we’re all right.”

If Punahou or any other ILH school was to protest, it would be the normal process.

“It would have to go to the ILH office and (league executive director Blane Gaison). I don’t know what the ILH rules are, especially for this unique situation,” Park said. “I’m sure the athletic directors have talked.”

Ng would follow his father’s footsteps if all is set in stone. Kekoa Ng played at Kamehameha under then-head coach James Winchester. Park was an assistant coach then.

Kordel Ng didn’t say anything during the process. He just kept training and practicing.

“I didn’t really deal with any of it. I just let my parents deal with it. I let them know how I felt about everything, and they did what they needed to do,” he said. “Technically, I was enrolled at four schools.”

The pals, Ng and Togiai, joked about Ng’s new look.

“He looks good in dark blue. Me and him already have good chemistry. It’s adding other people to our chemistry,” Togiai said. “We have a lot of juniors coming up, too (in basketball).”

Ng wouldn’t rule out the possibility of playing football. He played defensive back for the St. Francis Saints last season.
Kamehameha’s Kordel Ng scored 13 points in an ‘Iolani summer league game against Saint Louis. Photo by Jamm Aquino/Star-Advertiser.

COMMENTS

Live Aloha
June 29, 2019 1:36 pm

Why enroll at 4 schools? That is a lot of deposits to lose.

Hala Pohaku
June 30, 2019 2:52 pm

I am pretty confident that they didn’t have to pay any deposits to any schools.

???
June 30, 2019 8:48 pm

WAIT, Kamehameha doesn’t Recruit!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

HLI
July 2, 2019 10:26 am

it had to have come down to cost to choose there instead of the other school.

???
July 3, 2019 7:24 am

I see a Punahou Protest coming in the near future!

JetWavy
July 5, 2019 8:08 am

Looks like braddah had a better chance if he went Kahuku with those 6’4″ and 6’9″ kids transferring in. Kamehameha may not even make states again even with Ng. They ain’t beating out Maryknoll, Punahou, ‘Iolani, or Damien for the state births.

imua
July 31, 2019 8:27 pm

are you kidding ? if they donʻt win the championship it would be a disappointing season…

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